By: Follow South Jersey Staff
GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A Pine Hill resident has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). The resident was admitted to a local hospital displaying symptoms consistent with WNV. Laboratory test results positive for West Nile Virus were reported to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services.
“West Nile Virus typically affects a small number of New Jersey residents each year, however the prevalence of the virus has been increasing recently,” Commissioner Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Health Department, said. “The Camden County Department of Health is continuing to work with the Mosquito Commission to ensure that additional spraying and testing will be conducted in the area.”
According to the Center for Disease Control, West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States and is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Most people infected with WNV do not feel sick, the CDC website states. “About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.”
Symptoms of WNV include, but are not limited to, fever, headache, altered mental status, and other neurologic dysfunctions.
The best way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is to use insect repellent. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women:
- DEET
- Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
During the summer and fall months the Camden County Mosquito Commission schedules spraying on an as-needed basis based upon the results of their surveillance efforts and input from the public. The simple act of removing standing water from your property can help reduce the pest population in your neighborhood and assist the efforts of the commission.
For more information about West Nile Virus, please visit the CDC’s information webpage here.
For more information, or to report a problem, contact the Camden County Mosquito Commission at (856) 566-2945 or skeeters@camdencounty.com.
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